Epicardial Ablation Device with Suction Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac ablation devices are challenging to position and secure on epicardial tissue, often requiring open heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, and they lack the ability to perform minimally invasive procedures on a beating heart, especially around pulmonary veins, which are common sites for arrhythmia-triggering foci.
Innovation Solution
The development of devices and methods that include a tissue contacting member for securing the ablation device to the epicardial tissue, an ablation member for treating cardiac arrhythmias, and optional features such as suction pods, visualization tools, and energy transmission members to apply energy patterns for ablating cardiac tissue, allowing for minimally invasive procedures and stabilization of a beating heart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If current cardiac ablation devices are used, then arrhythmia treatment can be performed, but the devices are challenging to position and secure on epicardial tissue and require open heart surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The ablation device is divided into separate functional components: a positioning member with tissue-contacting elements for securing the device, and a separate ablation electrode. This segmentation allows the positioning function to be optimized independently, enabling secure attachment to epicardial tissue without requiring complex surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
A positioning member acts as an intermediary between the ablation device and the epicardial tissue. This intermediary component provides a simplified interface for tissue engagement, allowing the device to be securely positioned on the heart surface without requiring open surgery or cardiopulmonary bypass.
2Reliability
If open heart surgery is performed to secure ablation devices, then stable energy application can be achieved, but patient trauma and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning member is designed to securely attach the ablation device to the epicardial tissue before energy delivery begins. This preliminary securing action ensures stable energy application during ablation while avoiding the need for invasive surgical exposure, thereby reducing patient trauma.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical surgical fixation system (clamps, sutures, open chest access) with a less invasive positioning member that can be applied percutaneously or through minimal access. This substitution maintains energy application stability while dramatically reducing surgical trauma.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional ablation approaches are used, then pulmonary vein arrhythmia foci can be treated, but the procedures cannot be performed minimally invasively on a beating heart
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning member is designed with flexible or compliant elements that can adapt to the beating heart's motion. This dynamic design allows the device to maintain secure contact with the epicardial tissue throughout the cardiac cycle, enabling ablation procedures on a beating heart without requiring cardiac arrest.
Solution Approach 2:
The ablation device is designed to perform multiple functions through a single integrated system: positioning/securing the device on epicardial tissue, delivering ablation energy, and doing so in a minimally invasive manner on a beating heart. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate surgical steps and enables versatile application across different clinical scenarios.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables effective, minimally invasive ablation of epicardial tissue around pulmonary veins and other cardiac areas, reducing the need for open surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass, while providing stable energy application and visualization to treat cardiac arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation.
Implementation Method 1
an ablation member for ablating at least a portion of the tissue
Implementation Method 2
energy transmission members to apply energy patterns for ablating cardiac tissue
Implementation Method 3
optional features such as suction pods
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods are described for ablation of cardiac tissue for treating cardiac arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. Devices may include a tissue contacting member for contacting epicardial tissue and securing the ablation device to the epicardial tissue and an ablation member for ablating the tissue. Suction apertures attach the contacting member to the epicardial surface with sufficient strength to stabilize the tissue with the device. The devices and methods can be used to ablate epicardial tissue in the vicinity of a pulmonary vein or to ablate cardiac tissues in other locations on a heart. A combined pacing and ablation probe is described for treating cardiac arrhythmia by: advancing the probe through an incision into the vicinity of the patient's heart, verifying at least one location of a cardiac parasympathetic ganglion, and applying ablation energy to the cardiac parasympathetic ganglion.